An ideal starting point for your IT career: CompTIA A+ certification

By Sarah Morgan

CompTIA’s A+ certification is the ideal starting point for a career in IT. This qualification validates the skills required to excel in the role of a computer technician or support professional. The exams cover installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of PC components, mobile devices, laptops, operating systems and printers.

The exams you have to pass

In order to get your CompTIA A+ certification, you’ll have to pass two exams.  CompTIA A+ Essentials (Exam 220-801) tests required competencies for an entry-level IT professional with the equivalent knowledge of at least 500 hours of hands-on experience in the lab or field. To pass this exam, you’ll have to demonstrate a good understanding of the basic functionalities of the operating system and basic troubleshooting methodology, and practice proper safety procedures.

The other exam you’ll have to pass is the CompTIA A+ Practical Application (Exam 220-802), which measures your working knowledge of practical use of current software and Operating System interface and features. It specifically covers the skills required to install and configure PC operating systems, as well as configuring common features (e.g. network connectivity and email) for mobile operating systems Android and Apple iOS.

How to pass your exams

To successfully tackle the challenges of the exam and get your certification, you should be prepared, focused and relaxed. Watch this video to see how you can do it:

If you are up for an even greater challenge, learn about our combined A+ N+ course and get two certifications in one go.

About the Author:       
Sarah writes for Firebrand Training on a number of IT related topics. This includes exams, training, certification trends, project management, certification, careers advice and the industry itself. Sarah has 11 years of experience in the IT industry.